February 2020 | Volume 45 | Number 2 Debra Davis | Editor Marlee Moore | Associate Editor Laura Unger | Graphic Designer ALABAMA FARMERS FEDERATION Paul Pinyan | Executive Director Jeff Helms | Director of Communications FEDERATION OFFICERS Jimmy Parnell | President, Stanton Rex Vaughn | Vice President | North, Huntsville Jon Hegeman | Vice President | Central, Anniston George Jeffcoat | Vice President | Southeast, Gordon Jake Harper | Vice President | Southwest, Camden Steve Dunn | Secretary-Treasurer, Evergreen DIRECTORS Brian Glenn | Hillsboro Mark Byrd | Danville Donald Sewell | Southside Tim Whitley | Horton Joe Anders | Northport Phillip Hunter | Birmingham Joe Lambrecht | Wetumpka Jimmy Holliman | Marion Junction Bill Cook | Montgomery Steve Stroud | Goshen Mark Kaiser | Seminole Chris Carroll | Ariton Kathy Gordon | Dadeville Jonathan Sanders | Brundidge Neighbors (ISSN 0162-3974) is published monthly by the Alabama Farmers Federation, 2108 East South Boulevard, Montgomery, Alabama 36116 or (334) 288-3900. For information about Alabama Farmers Federation member benefits, visit the website www.alfafarmers.org. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Alabama, and additional mailing offices. Printed in the U.S.A. POSTMASTER Send address changes to Neighbors P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, Alabama 36191-0001 MEMBERSHIP AND SUBSCRIPTION CHANGES 800-392-5705, Option 4 or BWatkins@alfafarmers.org ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Ben Shurett, (256) 997-7922 BenShurett.alfafarmers@gmail.com DISCLAIMERS: Advertisements in Neighbors do not represent an endorsement by the magazine or Alabama Farmers Federation. Editorial information from sources outside the Alabama Farmers Federation is sometimes presented for our members. Such material may, or may not, coincide with official Alabama Farmers Federation policies. Publication of information does not imply an endorsement by the Alabama Farmers Federation.
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In This Issue 5 | Sanders Ready To Lead State Young Farmers
24 | Wooden Wonderland Carves Niche Market
8 | Hegeman To Represent Central Area Farmers
13 | Hardin’s Seasoning Hits High On Flavor
20 | Brothers Saved In Grain Bin Rescue
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On The Cover
Kathy Gordon is geared up to lead the Federation State Women’s Leadership Committee. She and husband Monty raised two sons on the family farm in Hope Hull before retiring to Lake Martin.
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Photo By Marlee Moore
www.AlfaFarmers.org
EDQAM
A member of American Farm Bureau Federation
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Sanders Plans To Promote Ag As Young Farmers Chairman
By Debra Davis he best part of farming might also be the T hardest to describe for Coffee County’s Jonathan Sanders. Every day is different, with
unique challenges and rewards, but each day also provides an opportunity to make things better, said the newly elected State Young Farmers Committee chairman. Jonathan, 28, who was elected at the Alabama Farmers Federation’s 98th annual meeting in December, said he looks at the Young Farmers concept similarly. “We have a great Young Farmers program in our state, and my goal is to keep it strong and growing,” he said. “I’m very honored to have been chosen as chairman, and it’s a privilege to follow in the footsteps of some great leaders.” While Jonathan wants to focus on attracting alfafarmers.org
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horticulture from AU, grows peanuts, cotton, corn, wheat, oats and timber. The variety farming offers is among its greatest appeals as an occupation, he said. “There aren’t many jobs where you get to do something different every day,” he said. “Harvest time is my favorite time of year because it’s rewarding to see the results of months of hard work. Planting season is also great because it’s full of hope. It’s wonderful to watch a crop emerge.”
State Young Farmers Committee Chairman Jonathan Sanders and wife Sara say they’re excited about raising their daughter, Ivey Lucille, on their Coffee County farm.
State Young Farmers Committee Chairman Jonathan Sanders addressed fellow producers during the Alabama Farmers Federation’s 98th annual meeting in Montgomery.
and encouraging traditional farmers to join the organization, he said it’s also important to reach out to others involved in the agricultural community and create relationships with them. “Through the Young Farmers program, I’ve been able to make friends throughout the state,” he said. “Farming looks different to different people. I have farmer friends who have never grown peanuts, but we still share many of the same issues, like dealing with bad weather and low commodity prices. I’ve been to two American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) meetings, which allowed me to grow relationships outside Alabama. At some point, I would like to serve on the national YF&R Committee.” As State Young Farmers Committee chairman, Sanders will serve one-year as an ex-officio member of the Federation state board.
Sara, who is a special education teacher at New Brockton Elementary School, grew up in nearby Ariton. She participated in FFA in high school but admits she didn’t know much about farming until she began dating Jonathan. “We knew each other in high school but never dated,” she said. “After I graduated from Troy University, I came back home, and Jonathan and I reconnected at an ag lending meeting. One of our first dates was to a Young Farmers meeting.” The couple said they love life on the farm and can’t imagine raising their daughter anywhere else. “I try to advocate for agriculture daily, especially for the crops I produce,” Jonathan said. “Serving as State Young Farmers Committee chairman gives me a bigger platform to serve farmers and be an advocate for our livelihood.”
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Federation Young Farmers Division Director Jennifer Christenberry said Jonathan’s passion for farming and the Young Farmers program will be an asset this year during his chairmanship. “I’ve known Jonathan and his family my entire life,” she said. “I’ve had the opportunity to watch his leadership abilities grow through participation in the collegiate Young Farmers program at Auburn University and then as a State Young Farmers Committee member. His service as chairman will strengthen the organization for years to come.” Jonathan and wife Sara, along with their 6-month-old daughter, Ivey Lucille, live on the family farm in northeast Coffee County’s in the Roeton community. The youngest of six children, and the only boy in the family, Jonathan farms with his father, Carl, who lives nearby. Jonathan, who has a degree in
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Hegeman Elected To Serve Central Area
By Marlee Moore
my perspective. We have to stay ahead of the curve and be at the forefront of defending issues important to t’s midafternoon on a blustery our members,” he said. “We have an winter day, and Jon Hegeman is opportunity to be forward-thinking, striding through the bright, humid and I want to help Mr. Parnell execute greenhouses of his Greenway Plants that.” Inc., making plans to visit 17 Alabama To more thoroughly serve counties. members, Hegeman is surveying As the Alabama Farmers county leadership during local board Federation’s new Central Area vice meetings to note expectations of president, Calhoun County’s Hegeman his service and issues that need will communicate interests and ideals representation in Montgomery. from those 17 counties to the board of Back home in Calhoun County, the the state’s largest farm organization. Hegemans are raising 8-year-old Ella “Grassroots make this organization and 8-month-old Jon Henry. strong,” said Hegeman, 37, a The family attends Grace first-generation farmer elected Fellowship Church. during the Federation’s annual Greenway Plants, based in meeting in December. “I’m the White Plains community not here to represent Jon near Anniston, has 11 acres Hegeman. I’m representing indoor and 10 acres of constituents in these outdoor growing space, counties.” which produce 5 million The Central Area includes container plants annually. Autauga, Bibb, Calhoun, Since Hegeman took over Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, in 2004 with just 4 acres of Fayette, Greene, Jefferson, greenhouses, the company Lamar, Pickens, Randolph, has contracted to grow plants Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, like dracaena, English ivy and Tuscaloosa and Walker ferns for Home Depot, Lowe’s counties. and Walmart. Federation President Recently, he began Jimmy Parnell said he looks growing groundcover forward to serving Alabama perennials in Centre in farmers with Hegeman. Cherokee County and is “Jon is a great example of transitioning some acreage how the Federation develops to industrial hemp. Hegeman homegrown leaders,” Parnell Central Area Vice President Jon Hegeman lives in the White Plains employs over 40 workers said. “He distinguished community of Calhoun County with his wife, Amy, and children Ella and during peak season for his himself through Young Jon Henry. labor-intensive business. Farmers programs, becoming The child of missionaries, Hegeman where he learned fundamentals of a leader at state and national levels. grew up riding horses with vaqueros the organization and the value of In addition, Jon isn’t afraid to ask in the Dominican Republic before membership. in-depth questions and take a stand moving to Canada at age 11. There “Understanding what the for what he believes in. He is a proven he gained experience working with Federation does for farmers changed leader, and we look forward to
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working with him on the board.” Hegeman was State Young Farmers Committee chairman in 2013 and American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee chairman in 2015. He and wife Amy, who have been married nine years, were Alabama’s Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) in 2012. Hegeman is the Federation State Greenhouse, Nursery & Sod Committee chairman, while Amy leads the organization’s State Equine Committee. Hegeman also graduated from the Federation’s A.L.F.A. Leaders program,
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livestock, baling hay and growing corn on dairy, poultry and hog farms. Hegeman’s also fluent in Spanish, allowing him to easily converse with H2A laborers. Stints in large-scale vegetable production in Florida and North Carolina, coupled with a series of hurricanes, which damaged his own snap bean and tomato crop in 2004, led Hegeman to Alabama. Hegeman said his diverse farm background — and penchant for asking questions — will help serve members, who represent a variety of commodities. “Learning never ends,” said Hegeman, who studied business at Jacksonville State University as an adult and recently earned his pilot’s license. “For example, I wasn’t raised around cotton but have learned a lot about the crop since moving to Alabama. Agriculture is more than just the farmer. It takes the banker, the guy selling seed, researchers and analysts to make agriculture work. At the end of the day, we’re all working to make Alabama better.”
Jon Hegeman is the Alabama Farmers Federation’s new Central Area vice president. He owns Greenway Plants Inc., a contract grower for stores like Walmart, Home Depot and Lowe’s.
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Federation Prepared For 2020 Legislative Session risons, medical marijuana and gambling are expected to P dominate debate when the Alabama Legislature convenes for its regular session Feb. 4.
Alabama Farmers Federation External Affairs Director Matthew Durdin said the state’s largest farm organization is prepared to be the voice for rural Alabama as legislators consider these and other issues. “Last year, the Legislature invested in rural Alabama through infrastructure spending, broadband internet expansion and incentives for job creation,” Durdin said. “While the Legislature is prepared to tackle issues such as prisons and gaming, the leadership also has said it will continue its focus on rural Alabama in the areas of healthcare and education. The Federation looks forward to working with lawmakers to represent the interests of our 330,000 member families.” In recent years, Alabama fell under scrutiny of the U.S. Department of Justice for prison overcrowding. Gov. Kay Ivey has proposed building three mega-prisons and could call a special session to address the issue once legislators gather in Montgomery. Among legislation certain to be introduced this session is a 75-page bill to legalize medical marijuana by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence. In December, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Study Commission voted to recommend the legislation
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by a vote of 12-3 with three abstentions. The Federation is monitoring the legislation and will work to ensure, if approved, farmers have an opportunity to grow the plant and that distribution is tightly controlled. Meanwhile, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians has launched a campaign to bolster support for casino gambling in Alabama. The tribe has proposed a $225 million payment to the State of Alabama for exclusive gaming rights plus additional taxes, licensing fees and revenue sharing, which could generate $1 billion for the state. In exchange, the group is seeking to expand its footprint with two additional sites and add Class III games like blackjack and roulette. The proposal also would authorize a traditional lottery. Last year, a paper lottery passed the Senate but failed on a procedural vote in the House of Representatives. While both the General Fund and Education Trust Fund budgets are expected to be financially sound, legislators will be challenged to find an estimated $100 million in the General Fund for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Federation Director of Agricultural Legislation Preston Roberts said the organization will work to maintain funding for agricultural programs. “Agricultural education, career tech programs and conservation efforts are important to our farmers and the future of our state,” Roberts said. “We thank the Legislature for recognizing these needs in past budgets, and we will work to preserve critical funding this year.” Federation budget priorities include funding for Ag in the Classroom, Classroom in the Forest, Career Tech Initiative, Concentrated Animal Feeding Program registration fees and matching funds for federal conservation programs. During the session, Durdin said the Federation will review hundreds of bills to ensure members are not subjected to burdensome regulations and taxes. The organization’s positions on proposed legislation are based on policy developed through a grassroots process, which begins with individual members at the county level. County Federation leaders will visit with elected officials Feb. 12 during the organization’s annual Taste of Alabama Legislative Reception in Montgomery. alfafarmers.org
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Legal Notice
To: Directors, officers, delegates and members of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association You are hereby notified that the directors of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association, in accordance with Section 1, Article IV, of the By-Laws of the Association, has scheduled its annual meeting as follows:
REFLECTIONS OF ITALY October 7 - 16, 2020 | 10 Days • 13 Meals MACKINAC ISLAND Featuring The Grand Hotel & the Tulip Time Festival May 3 - 10, 2020 | 8 Days • 12 Meals
For More Information Contact Collette at 800.340.5158
Time: 11:15 a.m. Thursday, February 6, 2020 Place: Volunteer Building, National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds, 231 South Dothan, Alabama
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Hardin’s Seasoning Becomes A Spice Cabinet Staple By Marlee Moore unique, 30-plus spice blend A invented in Montgomery is causing classically trained chefs, home cooks, pitmasters and others nationwide to clear out their spice cabinets. Their favored flavor is Hardin’s Seasoning, owned by Montgomery County father-son duo Tim and J.P. Molpus. “It’s everything you need to make your food taste good,” said 26-year-old J.P., who takes the lead in producing the decades-old recipe, while his father works with distribution centers to market the blend to over 250 grocery stores. Granulated garlic, lemon pepper, paprika and dill are a few of Hardin’s high-quality ingredients, which are mixed in small batches with the seasoning’s smoky base.
Tim said Hardin’s distinct profile hits the tongue in three stages. Taste buds first soak up garlicky, peppery, smoky flavors before a combination of celery salt and violet cleanses the palate. A bite of lemon finishes the flavor profile. At the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Montgomery, executive chef Jabari Nix and his team sprinkle Hardin’s on everything from prime rib and pork to roasted potatoes, gumbo and collard greens. “It’s a staple of what we do,” Nix said. “It has a high salt content. You don’t have to use anything else when you use Hardin’s.” Sous chef Micah Marlar said he cooked with the all-purpose seasoning at home before the Molpus family connected with the hotel restaurant scene. While he prefers Hardin’s to tenderize and accent beef, he’s created banquet menus featuring the seasoning,
Father and son duo Tim and J.P. Molpus of Montgomery are owners of Hardin’s Seasoning. They use highquality ingredients mixed in small batches with a smoky base to create a unique flavor profile. alfafarmers.org
Hardin’s Seasoning is available in 250 grocery stores in the Southeast and at HardinsSeasoning.com.
like Hardin’s-crusted salmon with blackberry salsa or pork belly sliders with coleslaw. Created by immigrant German butchers in the 1960s, the seasoning gained popularity at Hardin’s Meat Market in the 1990s. Martha Best Bice bought the recipe from the original family and added ingredients, which made the seasoning a fundamental flavor in River Region households. “I would love to say I created this seasoning, but I give credit where it’s due. And it’s due to Mrs. Bice,” said Tim, 61. “She was folklore in the area. I’ve been buying Hardin’s for years. When I had the opportunity to buy in, it was a no-brainer.” Tim bought the recipe a couple years ago after retiring from his commercial paint company. They’ve since added a blue-label poultry and seafood blend to contrast the original, red-label seasoning. The poultry seasoning has extra lemon pepper, dill, habanero and paprika. J.P. is concocting a hotter spice blend at the urging of heat-loving customers in Louisiana and February 2020
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Public Notice By Alabama Pork Producers And National Pork Board
The election of pork producer delegate candidates for the 2021 National Pork Producers (Pork Act) Delegate Body will take place Feb. 4, 2020, at 1 p.m., in conjunction with a Board of Directors meeting of the Alabama Pork Producers Association in the State Boardroom of the Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center at 300 Tallapoosa Street in Montgomery, Alabama during the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Commodity Organization Meeting. All Alabama pork producers are invited to attend. Any producer who is a resident of the state, at least 18 years old, is a producer of porcine animals or its representative, and has paid all assessments due, may be considered as a delegate candidate and/or participant in the election. All eligible producers are encouraged to bring with them a sales receipt proving that hogs were sold in their name and the checkoff deducted. For more information contact: Alabama Pork Producers, P.O. Box 11000, Montgomery, AL 36191-0001; telephone (334) 6125181; email rdurrance@alfafarmers.org.
Texas. Hardin’s is a hit across the U.S., from Martha’s Vineyard, where foodies dunk lobster in a mixture of Hardin’s and butter, to California steakhouses that rub the seasoning on high-priced beef. Italian and Cajun restaurants use Hardin’s, too, as do award-winning barbecue pitmasters. In his experience, Tim said retailers and business owners take Hardin’s home, too. Home cooks buy 5.5-ounce bottles of Hardin’s in grocery stores like Super Foods, Piggly Wiggly and Food Giant plus locally owned stores and markets. They also buy seasoning at HardinsSeasoning.com. Tim said some customers have driven as far as 40 miles to get their hands on Hardin’s. Maxwell Air Force Base helped spread the seasoning, too, as servicemen leave Montgomery with an affinity for Hardin’s. Tim recently created a Facebook group called Hardin’s Head to encourage fans to share recipes and photos of good eats seasoned with Hardin’s. Some shake the seasoning on eggs, buttered popcorn and vegetables — and even mix it in flour dredges for fried chicken. “We have two kinds of customers,”
Chef Micah Marlar uses Hardin’s Seasoning for a variety of dishes, including salmon, at the Renaissance Hotel in Montgomery.
Tim said. “One wants to tell everyone they know about Hardin’s. The other doesn’t want to tell anyone. It’s their secret ingredient.” Visit HardinsSeasoning.com to learn more.
Walker Promoted To Assistant Department Director he Alabama Farmers Federation T promoted 14-year organization veteran Mitt Walker to assistant director
day management of the department, reinvigorating our policy development and implementation programs, and of the Governmental and Agricultural continuing to work with the Catfish Programs Department in December. Division, all while advocating for farmers Walker will continue to lead the at the federal level.” Federation’s national affairs efforts and Walker began his career with the the Catfish Division, in Federation in June 2005 addition to managing the directing the catfish department’s agricultural and Meat Goat & Sheep programs. He will also divisions. In November help coordinate the policy 2011, he became development process national legislative and take the lead on programs director and international trade and the resumed Catfish Division farm bill. responsibilities in 2017. “I am so appreciative of Federation the opportunity to continue Governmental and working on behalf of our Agricultural Programs Walker members in this new role Department Director Brian and am thankful for the confidence the Hardin said Walker’s experience with Federation’s leadership has placed in commodities and policy implementation me,” said Walker, 44. “I look forward will benefit members. to assisting Brian Hardin in the day-to“Mitt’s skillset positions him to
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effectively address farmers’ needs and concerns in the public policy arena,” Hardin said. “He understands how actions in Washington can impact research, promotion and regulation. As assistant department director, Mitt will be in a position to help the Federation strengthen communication, engagement and cooperation across commodities.” Walker is a native of Clarke County and was an environmental scientist for the Alabama Department of Environmental Management before joining the Federation. He is a graduate of Troy University with a bachelor’s degree in environmental analysis and management and currently serves on the university’s National Alumni Association board of directors. Mitt and his wife, Brandi, have three children, Olivia, Addi Leigh and Ford. They live in Montgomery. alfafarmers.org
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Gordon Geared Up To Grow Agricultural Literacy By Marlee Moore sk Kathy Gordon about the Alabama Farmers A Federation, and it’s guaranteed her answer, always given with a smile, will center on agricultural
literacy. That’s what Gordon, 66, is focusing on as the 2020 Federation State Women’s Leadership Committee (WLC) chair. As chair, she serves a one-year, ex-officio term on the Federation board of directors. “For decades, I’ve worked with the Women’s Leadership Committee as an ambassador for agriculture,” said Gordon, who helped found the Montgomery County WLC in the 1980s. “Through the years, the Federation has become geared more toward women, and it’s been wonderful to see ladies support the state’s No. 1 industry. Our resources can revitalize communities and classrooms, giving educators confidence to teach agriculture.” Gordon’s appreciation for the outdoors stems from her childhood on a small farm in Grady. As a teenager, her farm-focused lifestyle was cemented after meeting Monty, her husband of 48 years. “I wanted to marry a farmer, and my sister told me not to marry a man with a dairy. Then I met Monty, and his family had two dairies,” Gordon said with a smile. “Before we married, his family made sure I learned how to rake hay and milk cows.”
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Helping educate teachers during Alabama Ag in the Classroom Summer Institute is one of Kathy Gordon’s favorite annual events. As State Women’s Leadership Committee chair, Gordon said she hopes to continue promoting agricultural literacy with educators and students, sharing the good news about agriculture’s impact on Alabama.
The Gordons’ farm evolved through the years, concentrating on crops such as wheat, soybeans and grain sorghum before converting to a quail preserve. In 1979, the couple’s hard work and enthusiasm earned them, and sons Paul and Justin, the title of Alabama’s Outstanding Young Farm Family. “Kathy was the most important part of the hunting business; she was the bookkeeper,” said Monty, 70, a former State Young Farmers Committee chair. Raking hay, making reservations for sportsmen and overseeing quail incubators were her other roles. She also cultivated a 36-year career working in the Finance Department for the Montgomery County School District. Gordon, who plans to retire this year, is past president of the Alabama Association of School Office Personnel. Working in schools provided her an outlet to grow others’ appreciation for agriculture by promoting Alabama Farm-City contests and distributing agriculture coloring books and soy crayons, Gordon said. Through the local WLC and Montgomery’s Daffodil Garden Club, she helped teachers who attended Ag in the Classroom Summer Institute establish campus vegetable gardens. Once students harvested their crop — which included tomatoes, peppers and herbs — they sampled the garden’s bounty through a simple salsa recipe. “It’s amazing to see agriculture come alfafarmers.org
full circle for those students,” she said. Federation Women’s Division Director Kim Earwood praised Gordon for her giving spirit and enthusiasm. “I don’t think you could find anyone who is more passionate than Kathy about promoting agriculture, especially with today’s educators and in Alabama’s school systems. She is always willing to give of her time and talents to help others,” Earwood said. “We’re excited to see her leadership in action as she encourages county WLCs to help their communities, grow interest in the Federation, engage in the
legislative process and educate future generations about agriculture.” Gordon said some of her earliest WLC memories include modeling homemade cotton clothes during sewing contests at the Women’s Leadership Conference in Birmingham. As State WLC chair, she and other WLC members play a pivotal role in organizing the annual April conference. Though the Gordons moved to Lake Martin when Monty retired, agriculture remains an active aspect of their lives. They routinely check fences and help manage wildlife on son Paul’s Coosa County property. Monty serves on the Federation’s State Wildlife Committee and Montgomery County Farmers Federation board. “Being involved in the Federation helps develop leadership skills,” Monty said. “Farming is such a great lifestyle to raise a family. I wish everyone could do it.” With years of agricultural experience, the Gordons said they’re optimistic about the future of agriculture but caution producers to exercise wisdom. “In today’s society, it’s hard to start farming from scratch,” Gordon said. “I recommend people start small and build a farm.” The Gordons enjoy spending time with their grandchildren — Jacob, Emma, Paxton, Powell and Mary Jack. They are members of Hope Hull United Methodist Church.
State Women’s Leadership Committee Chair Kathy Gordon routinely helps check fences and manage wildlife on her son’s property in Coosa County. Throughout the years, she and her husband, Monty, had dairy cows and grew row crops before transitioning their Montgomery County family farm to a quail preserve.
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Greenhouse Industry: Major Player In Alabama Ag By Maggie Lawrence ome people may think Alabama agriculture is only poultry, row S crops and cattle. However, a Cherokee
County farmer proves the nursery and greenhouse industry deserves a seat at the table. The industry’s prominence in Alabama agriculture is reflected in the state’s 2019 Farmer of the Year, Hank Richardson, who operates Dixie Green in Centre. The facility has 12 acres of heated greenhouse space and approximately 8 acres of outdoor pad growing space. Dixie Green grows everything from ferns and fall mums to calla lilies. The company is also a major supplier to Walt Disney World, which buys more than 80,000 poinsettias and caladiums for the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Paul Brown, Alabama Cooperative Extension System associate director, said many Alabamians don’t recognize just how significant the nursery and greenhouse industry is for the state. “Alabama’s nursery and greenhouse industry generated almost $230 million in total sales according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture,” Brown said. “When you add sod production, that figure jumps to $294 million, and it accounted for almost 5% of the total market value of all farm products sold.” To put that in perspective, Brown said census data showed 431,000 acres of cotton had total sales of $260 million and represented just under 4.5% of total
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farm product market value. Jeremy Pickens, an Alabama Extension specialist, said greenhouse vegetable production is also an expanding business. “The water and nutrient-use efficiency with greenhouse-grown products is much greater than open-field production,” Pickens said. “You can produce significantly more product per acre than you can conventionally. A grower could produce as much as five times more lettuce in a greenhouse than in a field.” Kevin Burkett, an Alabama Extension farm business regional agent, noted the economic impact extends far beyond product sales. “In addition to sales revenues, the greenhouse and nursery industry generates significant economic activity,” Burkett said. “More business and economic activity benefits everyone.” Burkett used a 2,880-square-foot greenhouse as an example. “Building a greenhouse requires purchases of lumber, steel, concrete and equipment, and those purchases fuel economic activity,” he said. Burkett said people can learn more about the construction budget for a greenhouse at aces.edu. A new 2,880-square-foot greenhouse in Alabama could generate more than $71,557 in estimated output from its construction. He said one new, successful greenhouse enterprise could generate more than $130,869 in estimated output in the state’s economy
in its first full year of operation. Pickens said greenhouse and high-tunnel vegetable production continues to expand across Alabama. “Protected agriculture is a big deal in many parts of the developed world. The U.S. doesn’t make the top 10 in terms of protected production,” he said. “We are so efficient conventionally that we haven’t needed to invest in that type of production. Now we can see the writing on the wall, and protected agriculture is the future for many specialty crops.”
Hank Richardson, Alabama’s 2019 Farm of Distinction winner, exemplifies the prominence of the state’s greenhouse and nursery industry. He operates Dixie Green in Centre, a 20-acre growing facility. Alabama’s nursery and greenhouse industry generated almost $230 million in total sales according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture.
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Trapped Against The Grain: Rescue Tube Saves Loyd Brothers On May 22, 2019, three fire departments responded to an emergency at Loyd Brothers Farm in Jackson County. Farm owners Jackie and George Loyd were trapped in the unrelenting grasp of nearly 8,000 bushels of corn in a grain bin. Responders used a grain bin rescue tube to save the Loyd brothers. Photo courtesy: Franklin County, Tennessee EMA & Rescue
By Mary Wilson or nearly 45 minutes, Jackie Loyd’s Fdrowned screams for help went unheard, out by the roar of an auger’s
engine. Jackie was stuck waist-deep in the unrelenting grasp of nearly 8,000 bushels of corn in a grain bin. “We had a good price for some corn, and we decided we needed to sell some,” Jackie said, recalling the events of May 22, 2019. “I might’ve been doing something I wasn’t supposed to, but I went up into the grain bin. The corn was bridged up, and I broke the dam of the corn. Then the corn came up on me, and I couldn’t get out.” Purdue University tracks grain bin entrapments on U.S. farms. Nearly 30 entrapments are reported annually, and 65% of those cases end in death. After nearly an hour, time was ticking for the 76-year-old as he sunk deeper, up to his neck in corn. “I had a lot of time to talk to God,
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and I think he answers prayers,” Jackie said. His brother and farm partner, 80-year-old George Loyd, was the first person to hear Jackie’s screams. George jumped into action to save his brother, only to become the second victim of the corn’s unyielding clutches. “I don’t think the corn got higher than waist-deep on me,” George said. “You don’t expect it, but you can’t move. It’s just all that pressure from the corn.” Three fire departments responded to the emergency at Loyd Brothers Farm in Jackson County, including the Scottsboro Fire Department (SFD). In January 2019, SFD employees attended the Alabama Farmers Cooperative Grain Expo where they received grain bin rescue equipment and were trained to use it. Sponsorships from numerous agricultural groups, including the Alabama Wheat & Feed Grain Producers, covered the cost of the rescue equipment.
“When you give a donation like this, you know it may possibly be used to save someone’s life,” said Carla Hornady, director of the Alabama Wheat
Grain Bin Safety Tips
u Place warning decals on bin entrances. u Turn off and lock out power controls to unloading conveyors before entering a bin. u Always use a body harness with a lifeline secured to the outside of the bin and have at least two observers during bin entry. u Establish nonverbal communication signals. u Secure grain storage areas to prevent unauthorized entry. Provided by the National Ag Safety Database and the Ohio State University Extension alfafarmers.org
Grain Bin Rescue
u Shut off all grain-moving equipment. u Contact local rescue squad or fire department immediately. u If possible, ventilate the bin using the aeration or drying fans. u Ensure power to the auger is locked out so rescuers aren’t injured. u Rescuers should use safety lines and respirators. u For partially submerged victims, build a retaining wall around the person using a rescue tube, plywood sheets, sheet metal or other material. Remove grain from around victim using shovels, buckets or vacuum. u For completely submerged victims, cut at least two V- or U-shaped holes in opposite sides of the bin to drain grain away from the person. The bin may collapse if not evenly unloaded. u Apply care to the victim as soon as possible with special attention to breathing, body temperature and emotional support. u Never give up.
In October 2019, Jackie Loyd gathers up some of the corn left scattered on the ground, one of the few lasting reminders of his brush with death on May 22, 2019.
Provided by North Dakota State University
& Feed Grain Producers. “It’s kind of unbelievable that the donation and training happened just months before the Loyds’ accident. I think you can see the hand of God in the timing of everything.” Along with using the grain bin rescue tube, first responders cut two holes on opposite sides of the grain bin so the corn could flow out and relieve pressure on the victims, which included the brothers and a first responder who got stuck during rescue efforts. Thanks to the rescue equipment and training, all three were freed four hours after the ordeal started. Numerous emergency responders required treatment for dehydration and dust inhalation, and George and Jackie were taken to a local hospital for medical care. Within the week, the brothers were back on the farm working alongside members of their community to clean up the spilled grain, including the alfafarmers.org
Within a week of the farm accident, members of the North Jackson High School football and baseball teams helped clean up the spilled grain at Loyd Brothers Farm.
North Jackson High School football and baseball teams. As they returned to their daily farm work, George and Jackie had a newfound appreciation for the hazards of farming. “We’ve been in and around these grain bins all our lives,” George said. “But you need to practice safety. You
need to use your head and not get in a situation like that.” When accidents do happen, the brothers agree it’s important to act quickly and call in the experts. “Get first responders as soon as you can,” Jackie said. “We waited a little too long because we kept thinking we could do it ourselves.” February 2019
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hey were married a long time. Sixty-seven years to be exact. My friend’s daddy had a voice like a tuba and a drawl as thick as sorghum syrup. The man was as tall as a pine and about as skinny, too. When he met her, she was an 18-year-old, non-English-speaking Mexican. The man: just out of the Army, without any idea of what he wanted in life. Fate happened the day my friend’s father saw some hoodlums harassing a Mexican girl and her two young sisters outside a cafe in Atlanta. The men made horrible gestures toward the girls. My friend’s father intervened and got his hindparts whooped. The fight broke his ribs, but he claimed the girl’s brown eyes were worth it. Theirs was an ill-conceived relationship. Not only did both families oppose the marriage. But neither of the lovebirds spoke the other’s language. They were as different as it got. So they eloped. Eventually, they learned how to speak to one another. It took years of practice. Whenever they’d visit her family, his daddy tried his best to speak a fragmented Spanish. According to my friend, his childhood home was a loving one — with good chicharrones. In his mother’s elderly years, she
came down with headaches. Bad ones. My friend said the torment would linger for days. His daddy would lay beside her on the bed in a dark room. And, since small noises pained her, his father would just listen to her breathe, his ear against her chest. “My parents were in love,” my friend says. “I used to think everyone’s parents were like that. But I know that’s not how it goes. “When my mama got sick, it was like someone was killing Daddy from the inside out. That’s when his Parkinson’s got real bad.” My friend’s mother suffered so long that when she passed it was a blessing. But his father wasn’t the same afterward. In fact, he was so affected he wouldn’t even speak about his late wife. It felt profane to use her name. But it didn’t matter. As it turned out, his daddy would only live 200 days after his mother’s funeral. When the old man finally left this world, they say he smiled, saying, “Today I get to see my Gabriella.” Anyway, maybe you don’t believe in real love. After all, a lot of people don’t. Some folks think the idea of this kind of love is just a well-thought-up myth, suited more for fairytales than daily life. Well. Those people are wrong. ■
Tag your social media posts! #FarmingFeedsAlabama
Columnist and novelist Sean Dietrich shares tales of common people, the human spirit, traditional regional music and life in the American South through his podcast series at SeanDietrich.com. alfafarmers.org
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Cochran Craftsmen Fashion Famed Wooden Furniture
Dylan Cochran crafts his family’s signature Lookout Mountain Rocker at Wood Studio in Winston County. He and his brother, Keith, and father, Randy, operate the nationally renowned shop.
By Marlee Moore hen craftsman Randy Cochran was W a new father, he had a design
inspiration. His vision of a smoothly rocking, long-lasting chair became the Lookout Mountain Rocker. Its hand-crafted frame of native hardwood and hand-stretched saddle leather achieved national acclaim four decades later when Garden & Gun magazine named it the 2012 Made in the South Awards Overall Winner. “Everything we do is hand-built one at a time,” Randy said. “We’re making modern antiques. We guarantee everything we do for 100 years or as long as any of us are alive.” These days, his sons, Keith and Dylan, spend 80 hours per piece producing signature furniture at Wood Studio in Arley. The shop, originally
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located in Randy’s Nashville backyard, moved to Winston County in 2005. The Cochrans craft pieces in limited production runs. They use the time-tested technique of overlapping mortise and tenon joints, which are glued and pegged with brass pins. The meticulously fashioned frame draws together when the Lookout Mountain Rocker is used, strengthening the piece. “It’s become an obsession to make sure we don’t cut corners or leave scratches, that everything is as tight and well-fitted as possible so it will last for generations,” said Dylan, who grew up hammering
scrap wood with his brother. Before joining Wood Studio full time, the brothers followed in their father’s footsteps and graduated from Auburn University. “(Because of my professors at Auburn) my design sense is influenced by the Bauhaus movement, along with my love for nature,” said Randy, referencing the German art school famed for its modernist construction philosophy. Wood Studio furniture includes the Beersheba (pronounced Bursh’ba) Swing. While the Cochrans’ other creations are original, this piece is
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based on an 1800s swing in Beersheba Springs, Tennessee. The Beersheba Swing, with arm rail spanning the sides and back, hangs from four mule harness trace chains, almost like a hanging bed. The 6.5-foot swing was originally made of sassafras but can also be built from poplar, red oak or white oak. The Cochrans said they emulate the quality of work used by craftsmen of previous centuries, creating solid and sturdy pieces that last a lifetime. They construct each item from one piece of wood, contributing to consistent color, grain and density. Signature pieces evoke nature through clean lines and simple design. Besides the rocker and swing, signature furniture includes the Big Wills Valley Stool, perfect for a kitchen island and complete with a curved backrest and leather seat; Little Wills Valley Stool, which serves as a side table, footrest or seat; and the Crane Chair, made of bent laminations cold-molded to provide a curved back. The Winston County Flying Ottoman complements the flagship Lookout Mountain Rocker. While walnut is the most popular wood choice,
maple, cherry, ash and oak shine in Wood Studio’s portfolio. The Cochrans source local wood when available, often salvaging lumber from nearby landowners. Finished products are treated with natural waxes and oils, which display the wood’s innate beauty. Each piece is stamped, signed, numbered and dated. Wood Studio signature pieces, which start at $950, bring enjoyment to owners, primarily found on the East and West Coasts in areas such as California, New York and Martha’s Vineyard. “We’re fortunate that people are willing to make the investment,” Keith said. “It’s an investment in our blood, sweat and tears to make this furniture.” Six Lookout Mountain Rockers frame the fireplace at the Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, a prime place potential customers can test Wood
Studio creations. In addition to signature lines, the Cochrans build custom entertainment centers and cabinetry. “I’ve always designed and built functional, comfortable furniture,” Randy said. “A lot of furniture designers try to do things that are avant-garde or kitschy. I always just made furniture for people to use.” For the Cochrans, the best part of Wood Studio is spending time with each other. It also brings back memories of when the Lookout Mountain Rocker wasn’t just a chair customers crave nationwide. It was an integral part of Keith and Dylan’s childhood, often imaginatively transformed into a racecar or spaceship. “When we started woodworking, we had an attachment to the chair itself,” Dylan said. “Because of our history with the chair, we have such dedication in making sure the finished product really is the nicest we can make.” Learn more at WoodStudio.com.
Wood Studio’s Beersheba Swing, above, is based on an 1800s swing, right, found in Beersheba Springs, Tennessee. The 6.5-foot, bed-like swing was originally made of sassafras but can also be crafted from poplar, red oak or white oak. alfafarmers.org
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How did you get involved in agriculture? My grandfather had cattle and peach trees, and I grew up showing livestock. Now I’ve bought the property that joined his farm in Collins Chapel and raise cattle and goats.
Tell us about showing livestock.
Clay Mims Whether on the farm or at Jemison High School, Clay Mims is all about agriculture. The 2001 Auburn University graduate teaches agriscience to about 125 students — nearly half of which also compete in FFA events like horse judging, livestock judging, parliamentary procedure, creed speaking and more. Mims, 44, serves on the Alabama Farmers Federation State Meat Goat & Sheep Committee and the Chilton County Farmers Federation board. He attends The Grove Community Church.
Growing up, I showed Simmental, Shorthorn and Brahman cattle through 4-H. I still raise and sell a few show cattle. Several of my students show cattle and goats.
Why are you part of the Farmers Federation? I’ve made a lot of connections and traveled the state. I’ve seen how agriculture looks in other parts of Alabama and can bring that knowledge back to my farm and pass it on to my students.
Why do you teach ag? Honestly, teaching ag was a backup plan. I grew up in ag, had a passion for it, and it was a way of life. These kids are like my kids. They’re family because you see them all the time and invest in them.
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Romaine
Rouxai
By Lois Chaplin never eaten lettuce with flavor,” Ion ’vesaid my friend after crunching leaves freshly picked from our
“
raised bed. Like tomatoes, the flavor comparison between homegrown lettuce and bagged, store-bought lettuce can be dramatic. For gardeners who want to enjoy this difference, late winter is the time to set out transplants for salad greens you’ll enjoy in March and April. Harvest can even extend into May depending on weather and lettuce variety. The longer the cool weather, the longer the harvest. The easiest and most productive lettuces are loose-leaf, buttercrunch and romaine (versus crisphead lettuce). Dozens of lettuces are available in seed catalogs, but the easiest and quickest start is with purchased transplants. Lettuce seed may germinate slowly, and the succulent sprouts are a favorite of cutworms and other caterpillars. What you find in a garden center will
Alabama
determine your selections, but mix it up if you can. A few popular ones include chartreuse Black Seeded Simpson, blush Red Sails, green Bibb and deep red Rouxai. You may find a six-pack “salad mix,” which features several varieties. “Mesclun” is a mix that likely contains peppery arugula or mustard. A variety of leaf colors makes a beautiful salad. Loose-leaf, buttercrunch and romaine offer a continuous harvest of outer leaves while leaving the center to grow new leaves. One plant will yield a harvest repeatedly. Loose-leaf lettuce grows very fast, with outer leaves often ready to harvest only three to four weeks after planting. Buttercrunch and romaine are a bit slower but are still a good addition to a spring salad bed. Unless you eat salad every day, two or three six-packs is plenty for a family of four. If you’ve ever planted lettuce in
late summer for fall harvest (a great time because of the longer cool growing season), you may have been disappointed that the newly set transplants stretched and never made nice rosettes as expected. This is not usually a problem with lettuce grown in the spring. Spring lettuce makes nice rosettes until hot weather forces bolting, where the plant stretches tall, gets bitter and makes flowers. Some varieties are later to bolt, so they last longer. Last spring, Rouxai was the last of 10 different lettuces to bolt in our garden; it produced until the last week of May! When lettuces do finally get too bitter, it’s time to pull them up and plant something for the warm season. Another option is to abandon the plants and let them grow tall and bloom for syrphid flies and other beneficial insects that like the flowers. On a trip to tropical Cuba in April 2016, we observed lettuce growing under 50% shade cloth to mitigate the heat. The Cubans harvest the plants while young, before they have a chance to bolt. I still have this on my garden bucket list of things to try. At home, we have used shade cloth to extend the life of our lettuce as the weather starts to warm in the spring. Lettuce is one of the most worthwhile, quick rewards from the garden, and it doesn’t require much effort or space. Just give it sun (some shade is okay) and water with a diluted liquid fertilizer for fast growth. It also grows beautifully in a container. Lois Chaplin is an accomplished gardener and author. Her work appears here courtesy of Alabama Farmers Cooperative.
Shop And Save Online Or In Stores E ALAFARM.COM alfafarmers.org
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Caramel Sheet Cake Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time Servings 25 mins 10 to 12
Cake Ingredients 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter 1 1/3 cups sugar 2 eggs 2 cups all-purpose flour 3 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup milk 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Frosting Ingredients 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup milk 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Cake Instructions
ith Valentine’s Day just around the W corner, it’s the perfect opportunity to whip up something sweet for your
sweetie. And while chocolate is usually the flavor of choice this month, I have a few extra ideas to throw into the mix. You can certainly keep it traditional and make one of my super-easy, decadent Chocolate Chess Pies. This is one of my all-time favorite desserts. The rich chocolate chess filling is perfect topped with a little whipped cream — or even ice cream. Using a store-bought frozen crust makes it even easier. Just opt for a deep-dish crust to make sure you’re able to get all that delicious filling in there. If cake is on your mind, Pineapple Juice Cake is sure to hit the spot. This recipe quickly became one of the most popular desserts on SouthernBite.com and for good reason! It’s incredibly easy and delicious. A cake mix makes the prep a breeze, but the pineapple juice glaze the cake is soaked in makes it special. It’s amazingly moist and filled with pineapple flavor. Check out my notes about this recipe, as not all cake mixes will work. If you’re looking for something a little different, give Cake Mix Cookies a
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try. With your favorite cake mix and just a few other ingredients, you’ll be turning out beautiful cookies in no time. I’m a big fan of using strawberry cake mix with these. This recipe was given to me by a childhood friend, and we’ve been making them ever since. Of course, there’s always my Caramel Sheet Cake. I skipped the fuss of a layered cake and turned the Southern classic into a sheet cake. And while this caramel frosting might be a little different, it always turns out perfect. A dear friend told me recently that if she had known how easy and delicious this recipe was, she would have been making it years ago. Regardless of what you make, the special folks in your life will certainly appreciate a homemade dessert over anything you can buy at the store. So take a few minutes this month to show someone you love them by making something sweet. Y’all enjoy! Stacey Little is a foodie, recipe developer and cookbook author whose Southern Bite blog helps families put simple, down-to-earth food on the table while preserving Southern cooking for future generations. See more recipes at southernbite.com.
Heat oven to 350 F. Lightly spray a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. In a large bowl with an electric mixer or in a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar. Add eggs. Mix well. In another bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder and salt. Add half of the dry mixture to the butter mixture and mix well. Add half of the milk and mix well. Repeat with the dry mixture and milk. Add vanilla and mix well. Pour batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until set and the cake starts to pull away from the sides. You can also check the doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done. Cool completely before icing.
Frosting Instructions To make the frosting, combine brown sugar, salt, butter and milk in a small pot. Heat over medium-low heat until boiling, stirring very frequently to prevent scorching. Boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely. Using a stand mixer or with an electric mixer, combine the cooled caramel with the powdered sugar and beat until combined and fluffy. You may find it necessary to add a little more powdered sugar if it’s too runny or a few drops of milk if it’s too thick to spread. Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cake. alfafarmers.org
Notes Recipe Stacey’s is too soft to ugh If the do , refrigerate it ith w rk r. o w t an hou a r fo bou ld help u That sho gh the dou firm up.
Pineapple Juice Cake Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 35 mins
Servings 8 to 10
Cake Ingredients
Chocolate Chess Pie Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Servings 8
Ingredients 4 tablespoons cocoa powder 1 1/2 cups sugar 3 tablespoons cornstarch 2 large eggs, beaten 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1 (5-ounce) can evaporated milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 (9-inch) unbaked deep-dish pie crust (homemade or store-bought is fine) Whipped cream, if desired
1 (15.25-ounce) box yellow or butter cake mix (I prefer Betty Crocker or Pillsbury) 3/4 cup vegetable oil 3/4 cup pineapple juice 4 large eggs
Glaze Ingredients 2 cups powdered sugar 3/4 cup pineapple juice 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
Heat oven to 325 F. Grease and flour a 10-to-12-cup Bundt pan. Use an electric mixer to combine the cake mix, vegetable oil, pineapple juice and eggs in a large bowl. Beat about 2 minutes. Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the cake is just starting to pull Instructions away from the sides. Allow the cake to Stacey’s Heat oven start cooling in the pan while you make Recipe N otes to 325 F. In a If you fin the glaze. d the pie to liquid-lik large bowl, e after co o In a small saucepan, combine o lin place it in whisk together the fridge g, powdered sugar, pineapple juice and fo a few ho the cocoa urs, and it r butter. Cook over medium-low heat until should se powder, sugar and t the butter has melted, stirring frequently. right up. cornstarch. Add in the Use a skewer or toothpick to poke eggs, butter, milk and holes in the cake. Pour warm glaze over vanilla. Stir well to combine. the cake while it is still in the cake pan. It’s Pour mixture into the pie shell, being going to seem like a lot of glaze, but just cautious not to overfill. Bake 45 to 55 keep pouring. Allow to cool 15 to 20 more minutes or until a crust has formed minutes or until the cake is cool and most completely across the top of the pie and it of the glaze has been absorbed. Invert the is mostly set. There will still be some jiggle cake onto a serving platter. to the pie. Stacey’s Recipe Notes Allow to cool completely before slicing and serving. This will allow it to set even Duncan Hines cake mixes do not work well more. Serve with a dollop of whipped with this recipe. I prefer to use Betty Crocker cream, if desired. or Pillsbury. alfafarmers.org
Cake Mix Cookies Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Makes 24 cookies
Ingredients 1 (15.25-ounce) box cake mix (any flavor) 1 (8-ounce) container frozen whipped topping (like Cool Whip), thawed 1 egg, lightly beaten 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions Heat oven to 325 F, and line a cookie sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, whipped topping and egg. Stir until combined. The dough will be very sticky. Pour powdered sugar into a small bowl. Scoop 1 heaping tablespoon of dough into the powdered sugar. A cookie scoop is very helpful. Roll the dough to coat with the powdered sugar. Place the sugar-coated dough onto a cookie sheet about 2 to 3 inches apart. Continue until the sheet is full. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until set. Remove from the oven. Cool completely on the baking mat or parchment, then use a spatula to remove the cookies. Repeat until all batter has been used. February 2020
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